Heston In The Early 1950's

A Memory of Heston.

I just stumbled over this site. I was 10 years old when we left Heston to emigrate to Australia. My mother was a hair stylist in The Crossways Shops (# 136) and I remember my first day of school at Springwell Infants. I later went to Hounslow College Preparatory School and was a choir boy at St Leonards circa 1954 -55. I distinctly remember that the bus fare to Hounslow was "three happence" and a kids haircut nine pence. I remember that the road facing the shops at the Crossways intersection was lined with Japanese Cherry Trees with pink and white blossoms in Spring. The Hope and Anchor was where I had to go at lunchtime on Sunday to the off licence to tell my father and grandfather that Sunday roast was ready - they would be in there having a pint. There was also a man on a motorbike with a side-car ice chest going around selling winkles on a Sunday - I called him the 'winkle man'. I also remember the killer smogs when you couldn't see your hand in front of your face by feeling one's way along the fence of the allotment and then a row of Victorian houses. I must have been only around 6 years of age and did this on my own! There was also something we kids called the Black Alley which was a pedestrian lane behind a factory and some houses.
There are many other memories - my grandfather on his allotment, a band which used to march and play through the village. Going on some nature study in a field near Heston Junior School and looking for Sticklebacks(?) in a stream. The Headmaster, I recall now when someone said Mr Palethorpe. At Hounslow Preparatory College the Headmistress was a Miss Spencer. I think the building has been demolished now but it was big old converted Victorian mansion, I think. I think the school has also closed down.